Electrical interconnection, and image sensor having the electrical interconnection

ABSTRACT

An electrical interconnection for a highly integrated semiconductor device includes a first insulation layer having at least a first recessed portion on a substrate. The first recessed portion is filled with metal to form a first metal pattern. A diffusion barrier layer including aluminum oxide of high light transmittance is provided on the first insulation layer and the first metal pattern for preventing metal from diffusing. An insulating interlayer including a second recessed portion for exposing an upper surface of the first metal pattern is provided on the diffusion barrier layer. The second recessed portion is filled with metal to form a second metal pattern. The electrical interconnection may be used with an image sensor. The metal may be copper. High light transmittance of the diffusion barrier layer ensures external light reaches the photodetector. The aluminum oxide of the diffusion barrier layer reduces parasitic capacitance of the electrical interconnections.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a divisional application based on pending application Ser. No.10/879,076, filed Jun. 30, 2004, the entire contents of which is herebyincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an electrical interconnection and amethod of forming the electrical interconnection, and to an image sensorhaving the electrical interconnection and a method of manufacturing theimage sensor. More particularly, the present invention relates to anelectrical interconnection of copper and a method of forming theelectrical interconnection, and to a complementary metal oxidesemiconductor (CMOS) image sensor having the electrical interconnectionof copper and a method of manufacturing the CMOS image sensor.

2. Description of the Related Art

The availability and use of information media and equipment forprocessing information media, e.g., computers, has been steadilyincreasing. Components using semiconductor technology are under pressureto keep pace with these developments. These developments requiresemiconductor devices that operate at a high speed and having a largestoring capacitance. As a result, semiconductor technology iscontinuously striving to improve integration, reliability and responsespeed of semiconductor devices.

Generally, a semiconductor device includes a great number oftransistors, resistors and capacitors. A semiconductor device needsinterconnections for electrically connecting the transistors, theresistors and the capacitors. Electrical interconnections transmit anelectrical signal, and numerous such electrical interconnections arerequired for a semiconductor device. Thus, electrical interconnectionsneed to have low electrical resistance, low cost and high reliability.As semiconductor devices become more highly integrated, the width andthickness of the electrical interconnections and the size of a contacthole through which the electrical interconnections extend arecorrespondingly reduced. Therefore, a design rule of a semiconductordevice is also reduced accordingly, as a pattern size shrinks. Theresulting reduced feature size increases the difficulty of formingelectrical interconnections on a semiconductor substrate.

The increased difficulty in forming wirings imposes strict requisites ona metal layer forming electrical interconnections on the substrate. Tomeet these needs, metal layers have been coated to be a multi-layerstructure so as to increase the degree of integration of thesemiconductor device. In general, aluminum (Al) or tungsten (W) has beenwidely used for coating the metal layer. However, aluminum and tungstenhave high specific resistances of 2.8×10⁻⁸ Ωm and 5.5×10⁻⁸ Ωm,respectively, and thus are not suitable for a multi-layer structure.Recently, copper (Cu), which has low specific resistance and a goodelectro-migration characteristic, has replaced aluminum and tungsten informing a metal multi-layer.

However, Cu has a high rate of diffusion with respect to silicon orsilicon oxide. Therefore, a barrier metal layer and a diffusion barrierlayer are required for preventing diffusion of Cu into the substrate.The barrier metal layer is coated on side and lower surfaces of a copperpattern, and the diffusion barrier layer is coated on an upper surfaceof the copper pattern.

A reactive ion etching (RIE) process is difficult to perform on copper,so a damascene process is used to form a copper pattern. In thedamascene process for forming the copper pattern, the diffusion barrierlayer functions as a stop layer of an etching process. The diffusionbarrier layer usually includes silicon nitride, which has a high etchingselectivity relative to an insulation interlayer and is good atpreventing Cu diffusion. In general, silicon nitride is deposited to athickness of about 300 Å to 1000 Å in order to prevent the Cu fromdiffusing and to ensure that the copper layer properly functions.However, silicon nitride has a dielectric constant of about eight. Thishigh dielectric constant increases a parasitic capacitance betweenwirings, thereby reducing a response time of the signal.

Recently, Cu wiring has been used as wiring in optoelectronic devices,e.g., a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor(hereinafter, “CIS”).

A CIS transforms optical images into electrical signals utilizing theCMOS technology. A recent dramatic increase in demand for digital imagedevices, e.g., in digital still cameras and cameras incorporated intomobile phones, door phones and so on, has given rise to an enormousdemand for CISs. Furthermore, CISs have been improved to have higherperformance, as the variety of CIS applied products increases. Forexample, a CIS is currently manufactured under a design rule of 0.18 μm,and is expected to be manufactured under a design rule of 0.13 μm in thenear future.

When a CIS is manufactured under a design rule of 0.13 μm or below,using aluminum to form electrical interconnections of a CIS will bedifficult. Thus, copper will be used to form electrical interconnectionsof a CIS manufactured under a design rule of 0.13 μm or below. As notedabove, when a copper pattern is formed by the damascene process, adiffusion barrier layer of silicon nitride is required for stopping anetching process and preventing diffusion of copper, as described above.However, silicon nitride is highly absorptive of light. Thus, a certainamount of light is absorbed into the diffusion barrier layer, therebypreventing light from reaching a detector of the image sensor.Therefore, the silicon nitride diffusion barrier layer is a criticalweak point of a CIS having a photodetector for detecting external light.

Table 1 shows an experimental light absorption percentage of siliconnitride according to a thickness of the silicon nitride layer andwavelengths of light at 400 (nm) and 500 (nm). TABLE 1 Wavelength 400(nm) wavelength 500 (nm) thickness (nm) light absorption lightabsorption 40  8%  3% 80 16%  6% 120 23%  9% 160 30% 12% 200 36% 15% 24041% 18% 280 46% 20% 320 51% 23% 360 55% 25%

A CIS including copper wirings requires at least a silicon nitride layeras the diffusion barrier layer on each wiring layer. For example, whenthe diffusion barrier layer is formed of six-layers of silicon nitride,each having a thickness of about 500 Å, the overall thickness of thediffusion barrier layer is about 3,000 Å. As can be seen in Table 1, asmuch as about 48% of external light incident on the silicon nitridediffusion barrier layer will be absorbed. That is, almost half of thesupplied light is absorbed into the diffusion barrier layer. Suchabsorbed light will not reach the photodetector, which is at a lowerportion of the CIS, thereby causing an operation failure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is therefore directed to an electricalinterconnection and a method of manufacture thereof, and an image sensorand a method of manufacture thereof, which substantially overcome one ormore of the problems due to the limitations and disadvantages of therelated art.

It is a feature of the present invention to provide an electricalinterconnection with reduced parasitic capacitance. It is anotherfeature of the present invention to provide a method of forming theelectrical interconnection having reduced parasitic capacitance.

It is yet another feature of the present invention to provide an imagedevice including an electrical interconnection having reducing parasiticcapacitance. It is still another feature of the present invention toprovide a method of manufacturing the image device including anelectrical interconnection having reduced parasitic capacitance using areduced design rule, e.g., at or below about 0.13 μm.

At least one of the above and other features and advantages of thepresent invention may be realized by providing an electricalinterconnection including a first insulation layer formed on asubstrate, a first metal pattern, a first diffusion barrier layer formedon the first insulation layer and the first metal pattern, a secondinsulation layer formed on the diffusion barrier layer, and a secondmetal pattern. The first insulation layer includes at least a firstrecessed portion, and the first metal pattern fills the first recessedportion. The first diffusion barrier layer prevents the diffusion of ametal material of the first metal pattern. The second insulation layerincludes at least a second recessed portion that exposes an uppersurface of the first metal pattern, and the second metal pattern fillsthe second recessed portion.

At least one of the above and other features and advantages of thepresent invention may be realized by providing a method of forming anelectrical interconnection including forming a first insulating layer ona semiconductor substrate such that at least a first recessed portion isformed therein. Then, the first recessed portion is filled with metal toform a first metal pattern. A first diffusion barrier layer is thenformed on the first metal pattern and the first insulation layer. Thefirst diffusion barrier layer includes a metal oxide, and prevents thediffusion of metal out of the first metal pattern. Next, a secondinsulation layer is formed on the first diffusion barrier layer suchthat the second insulation layer includes at least a second recessedportion exposing a portion of the first metal pattern. The secondrecessed portion is filled with metal, thereby forming a second metalpattern.

At least one of the above and other features and advantages of thepresent invention may be realized by providing an image device includinga substrate, an insulating interlayer structure, a plurality of metalpatterns, a plurality of diffusion barrier layers including aluminumoxide, a color filter, and a lens. A semiconductor device including anoptoelectronic device is disposed on the substrate. The insulatinginterlayer structure includes a plurality of insulating interlayerpatterns stacked therein, and each of the insulating interlayer patternsincludes at least a recessed portion. Metal patterns fill the recessedportions and make electrical contact with each other. The diffusionbarrier layer is disposed on boundary surfaces between the insulatinginterlayer patterns and between a metal pattern and an adjacentinsulating interlayer. The diffusion barrier layer prevents thediffusion of metal of the metal pattern. The color filter is disposed onthe insulating interlayer structure, and the lens is disposed on thecolor filter.

At least one of the above and other features and advantages of thepresent invention may be realized by providing a method of manufacturingan image device. A semiconductor device including an optoelectronicdevice is formed on the semiconductor substrate. Next, a lowerinsulation layer including a first metal pattern is formed on thesemiconductor substrate and is electrically connected with thesemiconductor device. A lower diffusion barrier layer is formed on thelower insulation layer. The lower diffusion barrier layer includes ametal oxide, and prevents metal of the first metal pattern fromdiffusing out of the first metal pattern. At least one insulatinginterlayer is formed on the lower insulation layer such that theinsulating interlayer includes at least a recessed portion. The recessedportion is filled with metal to thereby form a second metal pattern. Anupper diffusion barrier layer is formed between the second metal patternand the insulating interlayer. The upper diffusion barrier layerincludes a metal oxide and prevents metal of the second metal patternfrom diffusing out of the second metal pattern. A color filter is formedon the upper diffusion barrier layer, and a lens is formed on the colorfilter.

According to a feature of an embodiment of the present invention, thediffusion barrier layer of metal oxide is superior to the conventionaldiffusion barrier layer of silicon nitride, as it provides gooddiffusion prevention, provides excellent etching selectivity withrespect to silicon oxide, and allows a thickness of the diffusionbarrier layer to be reduced. In addition, the diffusion barrier layer ofmetal oxide provides good light transmittance, thus minimizing lightshielding of the diffusion barrier layer, and thereby improving thelight sensitivity of the device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features and advantages of the present inventionwill become readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art byreference to the following detailed description when considered inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an electricalinterconnection according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 2A to 2G illustrate cross-sectional views of various stages in amethod of forming the electrical interconnection shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an image device accordingto an embodiment of the present invention; FIGS. 4A to 4M illustratecross-sectional views of various stages in a method of fabricating theimage device according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a graph of intensity of secondary ions versus time whenComparative Sample 1 is tested;

FIG. 6 is a graph of intensity of secondary ions versus time whenComparative Sample 2 is tested; and

FIG. 7 is a graph of intensity of secondary ions versus time when Sample1 is tested.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Korean Patent Application No. 2003-44099, filed on Jul. 1, 2003, in theKorean Intellectual Property Office, and entitled: “Metal Wiring, Methodof forming the Metal Wiring, Image Sensor Having the Metal Wiring andMethod of Manufacturing the Image Sensor,” is incorporated by referenceherein in its entirety.

The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of theinvention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in manydifferent forms and should not be construed as limited to theembodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided sothat this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fullyconvey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In thedrawings, the thickness of layers and regions are exaggerated forclarity. Like reference numerals refer to similar or identical elementsthroughout. It will be understood that when an element such as a layer,region or substrate is referred to as being “on” or “onto” anotherelement, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elementsmay also be present.

FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an electricalinterconnection according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a semiconductor substrate 10 has an active regiondefined thereon by a field oxide (not shown). A first insulation layer12 including at least a first recessed portion such as a hole or atrench is formed on the substrate 10. The hole or trench is filled withmetal to thereby form a first metal pattern 20. The first metal pattern20 may include copper.

A first barrier metal layer 15 may be coated on side and bottom surfacesof the first metal pattern 20 when necessary. For example, when thefirst metal pattern 20 includes titanium, the first barrier metal layer15 is not needed; however, when the first metal pattern 20 includestungsten or copper, the first barrier metal layer 15 is required so asto prevent the tungsten or copper from diffusing into the firstinsulation layer 12. In this embodiment, the first metal pattern 20includes copper, and the first barrier metal pattern 15 includestitanium, nitride or tantalum nitride.

A first metal anti-oxidation layer 22 including a silicon nitride layeris provided on the first insulation layer 12 and the first metal pattern20. The thickness of the first metal anti-oxidation layer 22 may be nomore than about 30 Å.

A first diffusion barrier layer 24 is provided on the first metalanti-oxidation layer 22 to prevent copper diffusion. The first diffusionbarrier layer 24 may act as an etch stop layer in the following etchingprocess. The first diffusion barrier layer 24 may include a transparentinsulation material having a good etching selectivity with respect tosilicon oxide and an excellent light transmittance. The first diffusionbarrier layer 24 may include a metal oxide, e.g., aluminum oxide(Al₂O₃). The first diffusion barrier layer 24 may be formed to have athickness of about 100 Å to about 500 Å, e.g., about 200 Å to about 300Å.

When the first diffusion barrier layer 24 is provided using an atomiclayer deposition (ALD) process or a deposition process using a sourcegas including oxygen, the first metal anti-oxidation layer 22 is notneeded, since the copper is barely oxidized.

A second insulation layer 30 is disposed on the first diffusion barrierlayer 24, and includes at least a second recessed portion for exposing afirst metal pattern. The second recessed portion is filled with a metalmaterial to thereby form a second metal pattern 60. In this embodiment,the second metal pattern including copper has a via contact 60 adisposed in a lower portion thereof and a trench contact 60 b disposedin an upper portion thereof. The via contact 60 a makes an electricalcontact with the first metal pattern 20, while the trench contact 60 bmakes contact with the via contact 60 a for applying electrical signalsto the via contact 60 a .

The second insulation layer 30 may be an insulating interlayer formedinto a lower layer 30 a and an upper layer 30 b. The lower layer 30 amay include at least a via-hole that exposes a first metal pattern 20,and the upper layer 30 b may include at least a trench over thevia-hole. The via contact 60 a is within the via-hole, and the trenchcontact 60 b is within the trench. In this embodiment, an etch stoplayer 40 may be interposed between the lower and upper layers 30 a and30 b, and stops the etching process for forming the trench in the upperlayer 30 b. The etching stop layer 40 may include aluminum oxide havinga thickness of about 300 Å to about 1000 Å, e.g., about 500 Å to about700 Å.

A second barrier metal layer 50 is coated on inner surfaces of thevia-hole and trench, so that metal such as copper of the via contact 60a and the trench contact 60 b is prevented from diffusing into thesecond insulation layer 30. The second barrier layer 50 may includetitanium nitride or tantalum nitride.

Although not shown in FIG. 1, an insulating interlayer having astructure as described above may be vertically stacked in multi-layerson the first diffusion barrier layer 24, and a plurality of the secondmetal lines may be sequentially disposed along the stacked insulatinginterlayer. Each of the second metal lines includes a second via contactextending along a second via-hole and a second trench contact extendingalong a second trench of each insulating interlayer. The via contact andthe trench contact disposed in adjacent insulating interlayerselectrically contact one another, so that the electrical connection ismaintained through the lines. A second diffusion barrier layer may beinterposed between the insulating interlayers, so that metal, e.g.,copper, of the metal line is prevented from diffusing into each of theinsulating interlayers. In addition, a second anti-oxidation layer maybe disposed under the second diffusion barrier layer for preventing themetal line of each insulating interlayer from being oxidized.

According to the embodiment of the electrical interconnection of thepresent invention, the diffusion barrier layer of the electricalinterconnection includes a metal oxide. The diffusion barrier layer ofmetal oxide possesses good diffusion prevention properties and excellentetching selectivity with respect to silicon oxide, so that the thicknessof the diffusion barrier layer may be reduced and the parasiticcapacitance may be minimized. Therefore, the diffusion barrier layer ofmetal oxide provides advantages over a conventional diffusion barrierlayer of silicon nitride.

FIGS. 2A to 2G illustrate cross sectional views of stages in a method offorming the electrical interconnection shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 2A, the first insulation layer 12 is disposed on thesemiconductor substrate 10. Then, a portion of the first insulationlayer 12 is removed, thereby forming at least a first recessed portionsuch as a hole or a trench. The first barrier metal layer 15 is providedon an inner surface of the hole or trench. The first barrier metal layer15 prevents metal from diffusing into the first insulation layer 12 whenthe hole or trench is filled with metal in a subsequent process. Thefirst barrier metal layer 15 may include titanium nitride or tantalumnitride.

The hole or trench on which the barrier metal layer 15 is coated isfilled with metal, thereby forming the first metal pattern 20. In thisembodiment, metal is deposited on the first insulation layer 12 to apredetermined thickness and forms a metal layer on the first insulationlayer 12 after filling the hole or trench. Then, the metal layer isremoved by a planarization process, e.g., an etch back process or achemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process, so that the metal layer onthe first insulation layer 12 is removed and metal only remains in thehole or trench, thereby forming the first metal pattern 20. Theplanarization process also removes the barrier metal layer to form thebarrier metal pattern 15. The first metal pattern may include copper,titanium or tungsten. When the first metal pattern includes titanium,the first barrier metal layer 15 may not be needed.

Referring to FIG. 2B, the first anti-oxidation layer 22 is provided onthe first insulation layer 12, the first metal pattern 20 and the firstbarrier metal pattern 15. The first anti-oxidation layer 22 may includesilicon nitride or silicon carbide, and prevents the first metal pattern20 from being oxidized when oxide is supplied in a subsequent process.The first anti-oxidation layer 22 may be provided to a predeterminedthickness such that a surface of the first metal pattern 20 is notexposed. For example, the first anti-oxidation layer 22 is provided to athickness of below about 30 Å.

Referring to FIG. 2C, the first diffusion barrier layer 24 is providedon the first anti-oxidation layer 22. The first diffusion barrier layer24 prevents the first metal pattern 20 from diffusing metal there fromor being etched in a subsequent process. The first diffusion barrierlayer 24 may include aluminum oxide. In detail, the first diffusionbarrier layer 24 stops an etching process for a via-hole in a subsequentprocess, and prevents metal of the first metal pattern 20 from diffusinginto the first insulation layer 12. The first diffusion barrier layer 24may be provided at a thickness of about 100 Å to about 500 Å, e.g.,about 200 Å to about 300 Å. The first diffusion barrier layer may beprovided using a physical vapor deposition (PVD) process, a chemicalvapor deposition (CVD) process, atomic layer deposition (ALD) or aSol-Gel process. The ALD process forms an atomic layer at a lowtemperature layer by layer. When using the ALD process, aluminum atomsare chemisorbed in the first anti-oxidation layer 22 using a firstsource gas including aluminum, and then, the chemisorbed aluminum isoxidized using a second source gas including oxide, thereby forming analuminum oxide layer. Since no oxygen gas is used, the ALD process forforming the aluminum oxide layer avoids oxidizing metal in the metalpattern 20. Thus, the first anti-oxidation layer 22 may not be needed.When the aluminum oxide is formed using the CVD process, the firstanti-oxidation layer 22 may not be needed, since only a source gascontaining oxygen is used in the CVD process, but no reaction gascontaining an oxygen gas is used.

The aluminum oxide has excellent etch selectivity with respect tosilicon oxide, which constitutes a majority of the second insulationlayer to be formed on the first diffusion barrier layer 24, and preventsmetal in the metal pattern 20 from diffusing into a neighboring layer.

In a conventional electrical interconnection, the first diffusionbarrier layer includes silicon nitride in place of the aluminum oxide.However, the silicon nitride layer needs to be thicker than about 1000 Åin order to prevent the diffusion of the copper and to stop subsequentetching processes. In contrast, an experimental results show thataluminum oxide having a thickness of about 200 Å is sufficient toprevent diffusion of metal and to stop the etching process. Thus,aluminum oxide of an embodiment of the present invention may reduce thethickness of the diffusion barrier layer by up to about 80% of that of aconventional diffusion barrier layer.

A dielectric constant of the aluminum oxide, nitride or silicon carbideis higher than that of the silicon oxide. Therefore, as the thickness ofthe diffusion barrier layer increases, parasitic capacitance betweenelectrical interconnections increases. This increase in parasiticcapacitance significantly reduces a response time of the semiconductordevice. However, since the thickness of the diffusion barrier layer maybe smaller when using aluminum oxide instead of conventional siliconnitride, the parasitic capacitance between the wirings may be minimized.

Referring to FIG. 2D, the second insulation layer 30 is disposed on thefirst diffusion barrier layer 24. As an exemplary embodiment, the secondinsulation layer 30 includes the insulating interlayer having the lowerlayer 30 a and the upper layer 30 b. The lower layer 30 a provided onthe first diffusion barrier layer 24 includes silicon oxide. Then, theetching stop layer 40 including aluminum oxide is provided on the lowerlayer 30 a, and used for stopping the etching process for forming atrench in the upper layer 30 b in a subsequent process. The etching stoplayer 40 may be coated to a thickness of about 300 Å to 1000 Å, e.g., toa thickness of about 500 Å to about 700 Å. The upper layer 30 b providedon the etching stop layer 40 includes silicon oxide.

The upper layer 30 b, the etching stop layer 40 and the lower layer 30 aare sequentially etched in that order by a conventional photolithographyprocess, thereby exposing a portion of the first diffusion barrier layer24 and forming a first space surrounded by the upper layer 30 b, theetching stop layer 40 and the lower layer 30 b. Next, an etching processis performed on the upper layer 30 b neighboring the first space untilthe etching stop layer 40 is exposed. That is, when the etching stoplayer 40 is detected, the etching process for removing the upper layer30 b is stopped, and thus the lower layer 30 a is protected from theetching process. Therefore, the lower and upper layers 30 a and 30 b areformed to have a stepped cross-section, with the second space beingwider than the first space. The first diffusion barrier layer 24 has ahigher etching selectivity than that of the upper layer 30 b, thus thefirst diffusion barrier layer 24 is barely etched during the etchingprocess for forming the second space. Therefore, the first metal pattern20 is not exposed in the etching process for forming the second space,thereby protecting the first metal pattern 20 in the etching process.

Then, the etching stop layer exposed in the second space and the firstdiffusion barrier layer 24 exposed in the first space are removed, andthe first metal pattern 20 is exposed as shown in FIG. 2E. Therefore,the first space is surrounded by the first metal pattern 20 and thelower layer 30 a, and the second space is defined by the lower and upperlayers 30 a and 30 b and is connected to the first space. The firstspace acts as a first via-hole 42 and the second space acts as a firsttrench 44. Although the above exemplary embodiments discuss a via-firstdamascene process in which a via-hole is formed prior to the trench, anyother process for forming the via-hole and trench such as a trench-firstdamascene in which a trench is formed prior to the via-hole may also beutilized in place of the via-first damascene process, as would known toone of the ordinary skill in the art.

Then, a first barrier metal layer 46 is formed on inner surfaces of thefirst via-hole 42 and the first trench 44. The first barrier metal layer46 prevents metal, e.g., copper, to be filled in the first via-hole andtrench 42 and 44 from diffusing into the second insulation layer 30. Thefirst barrier metal layer 46 may include tantalum nitride or titaniumnitride.

As shown in FIG. 2F, metal is deposited on the upper layer 30 b to apredetermined thickness, so that the first via-hole and trench 42 and 44are filled with metal. As a result, a metal layer 48 is coated on theupper layer 30 b. The metal layer may be deposited using anelectroplating process after depositing a metal seed by sputtering, orusing an electroless plating process.

Referring to FIG. 2G, the metal layer 48 and the first barrier metallayer 46 are removed, e.g., using a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP)process. Thus, the upper layer 30 b is exposed. Therefore, only thefirst via-hole 42 and the first trench 44 are filled with metal, therebyforming the second metal pattern 60. The second metal pattern 60includes the first via contact 60 a electrically connected with thefirst metal pattern 20 and the first trench contact 60 b electricallyconnected with the first via contact 60 a and supplying an electricalsignal to the first via contact 60 a. In addition, the first barriermetal layer 46 remains on side surfaces of the upper and lower layers 30a and 30 b and the first metal pattern 20, thereby forming the firstbarrier metal layer pattern 50.

In this exemplary embodiment, the second insulation layer 30 and thesecond metal pattern 60 may be vertically stacked thereon by repeatingthe processes as described above in relation to FIGS. 2B to 2G.Therefore, the second insulation layer 30 may be formed of stackedlayers, each of which includes a lower layer and an upper layer, and thesecond metal pattern may also be formed of stacked patterns individuallypositioned in every second insulation layer.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an image device accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the image device according to the present inventionincludes a semiconductor substrate 100 on which an active region definedby a field oxide 102 is provided. A photodetector, e.g., a photodiode110, is positioned on a surface of the active region of thesemiconductor substrate 100. A plurality of transistors 120 is formed onthe substrate 100 to serve as a switching device. Each transistor 120includes a gate electrode 114 and source/drain region 122 disposedbetween two adjacent gate electrodes 114. A gate insulation layer 112 isdisposed between the substrate 100 and the gate electrodes 114. A spacer116 is formed both sidewalls of the gate electrodes 114.

A lower insulation layer 130 is formed on the semiconductor substrate100, and covers the transistors 120. The lower insulation layer 130includes a transparent material such as silicon oxide. The lowerinsulation layer 130 is selectively removed to thereby form a pluralityof openings. A lower contact 140 is positioned in the opening of thelower insulation layer 130. The lower contact 140 is electricallyconnected to the gate electrode 114 or the source/drain region 122through the lower insulation layer 130. The lower contact 140 mayinclude metal, e.g., copper (Cu), titanium (Ti) or tungsten (W).

A lower barrier metal layer pattern 401 may be positioned between thelower contact 140 and the lower insulation layer 130 to prevent thematerial of the lower contact 140 from diffusing into the lowerinsulation layer 130. The lower barrier metal layer pattern 401 mayinclude titanium nitride or tantalum nitride. When the lower contact 140includes titanium, the lower barrier metal layer pattern 401 is notneeded.

An insulating interlayer structure including a plurality of transparentinsulating interlayer is positioned on the lower insulation layer 130.Each insulating interlayer pattern includes at least a recessed portionsuch as a via-hole and a trench, and metal fills the recessed portionsto thereby form a plurality of metal patterns for electricallycommunicating with the lower contact 140. Each of the metal patterns isindividually positioned in each insulating interlayer, and includes avia contact and a trench contact. The via contact and the trench contactin adjacent insulating interlayers are electrically connected with eachother, and the metal patterns are electrically connected with eachother. A plurality of diffusion barrier layers is disposed on boundarysurfaces between the adjacent insulating interlayer patterns and betweenthe trench contact and the insulating interlayer pattern adjacent to thetrench contact. The diffusion barrier layer prevents metal of the trenchcontact from diffusing into the adjacent insulating interlayer. Ananti-oxidation layer may be disposed under the diffusion barrier layerso as to prevent the trench contact from being oxidized.

In this embodiment, the insulating interlayer structure includes fourinsulating interlayers that are vertically stacked on the lowerinsulation layer 130.

A first anti-oxidation layer 142 is disposed on the lower insulationlayer 130. The first anti-oxidation layer 142 may included a siliconnitride layer having a thickness below about 30 Å. A first diffusionbarrier layer 144 is disposed on the first anti-oxidation layer 142, anda first insulating interlayer 150 is disposed on the first diffusionbarrier layer 144. The first diffusion barrier layer 144 stops etchingof the first insulating interlayer 150 for forming a via-hole in asubsequent process, and prevents the metal material of a lower trenchcontact 160 disposed along the lower trench from diffusing into thefirst insulating interlayer 150. In this embodiment, the first diffusionbarrier layer 144 includes aluminum oxide having a thickness of about100 Å to about 500 Å, e.g., about 200 Å to about 300 Å. When aluminumoxide is deposited by using the ALD process or by using a source gasincluding oxygen without reaction gas, the metal is not significantlyoxidized, and the first anti-oxidation layer 142 may not be necessary.

The aluminum oxide layer has a high etching selectivity with respect tothe silicon oxide and high light transmittance.

According to an article by D. H. Kwo et al., Thin Solid Films 398-399(2001) 35-40, when aluminum oxide is deposited to a thickness between0.35 μm and 2 μm using a metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD)at a temperature of 350° C. to 500° C., the light transmittance of thealuminum oxide is over 80% in a region of visible light havingwavelengths between 400 nm and 700 nm. In addition, according to anarticle by Lide Zhang, NanoStructured Materials Vol. 8 No. 2 191-197(1997), when aluminum oxide is deposited using the Sol-Gel process, thelight transmittance of the aluminum oxide increases as the temperatureof the following heat treatment increases. For example, while the lighttransmittance of an aluminum oxide layer having a thickness of 7 μm onwhich no heat treatment is carried out is about 80%, the lighttransmittance of an aluminum oxide layer having a thickness of 3 μm onwhich the heat treatment is carried out at a temperature of 400° C. isabout 87%.

Therefore, although the aluminum oxide layer is in the optical path ofthe photodectector, most of external light is transmited by the aluminumoxide layer and reaches the photodetector, thereby improving aperformance of the image device including the photodetector.

The first insulating interlayer layer 150 includes a transparentmaterial such as silicon oxide, and a portion of the first insulatinginterlayer 150 is removed, thereby forming a plurality of openings forexposing the lower contact 140. These openings are a lower trench. Thelower trench is filled with metal, e.g., copper, thereby forming a lowertrench contact 160 making electrical contact with the lower contact 140.Furthermore, a first barrier metal layer pattern 165 may be disposedaround the lower trench contact 160 to prevent metal in the lower trenchcontact 160 from diffusing into the first insulating interlayer 150.

A second anti-oxidation layer 166 and a second diffusion barrier layer168 are disposed on the first insulating interlayer 150, and a secondinsulating interlayer 170 is disposed on the second diffusion barrierlayer 168.

As an exemplary embodiment, the second insulating interlayer 170includes a first lower layer 170 a disposed at a lower portion thereofand a first upper layer 170 b disposed at an upper portion thereof. Aportion of the first lower layer 170 a is removed, thereby forming aplurality of first via-holes for exposing the lower conductive line 160.A portion of the first upper layer 170 b is also removed, therebyforming a plurality of first trenches connected to the first via-holes,respectively. A first etching stop layer 180 is disposed between thefirst lower and upper layers 170 a and 170 b, and is used to stop theetching of the first upper layer 170 b for forming the first trench.Therefore, the first trench is formed to be larger than the firstvia-hole, and the first trench and the first via-hole have a steppedcross-section. The first etching stop layer 180 may include aluminumoxide having a thickness of about 300 Å to 1000 Å, e.g., about 500 Å toabout 700 Å.

The first trenches and via-holes are filled with metal, e.g., copper,thereby forming a first metal pattern 200 acting as a first electricalinterconnection. In detail, the first metal pattern 200 includes a firstvia contact 200 a disposed along the first via-holes and makingelectrical contact with the lower trench contact 160, and a first trenchcontact 200 b disposed along the first trenches making electricalcontact with the first via contact 200 a.

A second barrier metal layer pattern 190 is coated on inner surfaces ofthe first trench and via-holes to prevent metal from diffusing into thesecond insulating interlayer 170. The second barrier metal layer pattern190 may include titanium nitride or tantalum nitride.

A third anti-oxidation layer 202, a third diffusion barrier layer 204and a third insulating interlayer 210 are sequentially disposed on thesecond insulating interlayer 170 in the same structure described above.Therefore, the third insulating interlayer 210 includes a second lowerlayer 210 a disposed at a lower portion thereof and a second upper layer210 b disposed at an upper portion thereof. A portion of the secondlower layer 210 a is removed, thereby forming a plurality of secondvia-holes for exposing the first trench contact 200 b. A portion of thesecond upper layer 210 b is also removed, thereby forming a plurality ofsecond trenches connected to the second via-holes, respectively. Asecond etching stop layer 220 is disposed between the second lower andupper layers 210 a and 210 b, and is used to stop the etching to thesecond upper layer 210 b for forming the second trench. Therefore, thesecond trench is formed to be wider than the second via-hole, and thesecond trench and via-hole also have a stepped cross-section.

The second trenches and via-holes are filled with metal, e.g., copper,thereby forming a second metal pattern 230 acting as a second electricalinterconnection. In detail, the second metal pattern 230 includes asecond via contact 230 a disposed along the second via-holes and makingelectrical contact with the first trench contact 200 b, and a secondtrench contact 230 b disposed along the second trenches makingelectrical contact with the second via contact 230 a.

A third barrier metal layer pattern 245 is provided on inner surfaces ofthe second trench and via-holes to prevent metal therein from diffusinginto the third insulating interlayer 210. The third barrier metal layerpattern 245 may also includes titanium nitride or tantalum nitride.

A fourth anti-oxidation layer 232, a fourth diffusion barrier layer 234and a fourth insulating interlayer 250 are sequentially disposed on thethird insulating interlayer 210 in the same structure described above.Therefore, the fourth insulating interlayer 250 includes a third lowerlayer 250 a disposed at a lower portion thereof and a third upper layer250 b disposed at an upper portion thereof. A portion of the third lowerlayer 250 a is removed, thereby forming a plurality of third via-holesfor exposing the second trench contact 230 b. A portion of the thirdupper layer 250 b is also removed, thereby forming a plurality of thirdtrenches connected to the third via-holes. A third etching stop layer240 is disposed between the third lower and upper layers 250 a and 250b, used to stop the etching to the third upper layer 250 b for formingthe third trench. Therefore, the third trench is formed to be wider thanthe third via-hole, and the third trench and via-hole also have astepped cross-section.

The third trenches and via-holes are filled with metal, e.g., copper,thereby forming a third metal pattern 270 acting as a third electricalinterconnection. In detail, the third metal pattern 270 includes a thirdvia contact 270 a disposed along the third via-holes and making anelectrical contact with the second trench contact 230 b, and a thirdtrench contact 270 b disposed along the third trenches making electricalcontact with the third via contact 270 a.

A fourth barrier metal layer pattern 260 is provided on inner surfacesof the third trenches and via-holes to prevent metal therein fromdiffusing into the fourth insulating interlayer 250. The fourth barriermetal layer pattern 260 may also include titanium nitride or tantalumnitride.

A fifth anti-oxidation layer 272, a fifth diffusion barrier layer 274and a fifth insulating interlayer 280 are sequentially disposed on thefourth insulating interlayer 250 and the third metal pattern 270.

A color filter 290 is positioned on the fifth insulating interlayer 280corresponding to the photo diode 110. A lens 360, e.g., a micro-lens, isdisposed on the color filter 290 to focus light onto the photo diode110.

According to the present invention, a metal oxide layer having a highlight transmittance is used as an etching stop layer of the imagedevice, so that most of the external light may reach the photo diode,even when the metal oxide layer is in the optical path of the photodiode. In addition, the anti-oxidation layer may include silicon nitridehaving a thickness of less than about 30 Å, so that the lighttransmittance may be remarkably increased. Furthermore, the metal oxidelayer has a high etching selectivity in respective to the insulatinginterlayer and an excellent metal diffusion prevention characteristic.Thus, the metal oxide layer may be formed to be thinner than aconventional silicon nitride layer. As a result, parasitic capacitanceof electrical interconnections due to the etching stop layer may besignificantly improved.

FIGS. 4A to 4M illustrate cross-sections of various stages in a methodof manufacturing the image device according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4A, an active region is defined by forming the fieldoxide 102 on the semiconductor substrate 100. A photodetector, e.g., aphoto diode 110 is provided on a surface of the active region, and theplurality of transistors 120 is formed on the semiconductor substrate100. The transistors 120 are electrically connected to the photo diode110 and act as a switching device. Each of the transistors 120 includesthe gate electrode 114 and the source/drain region 122. The gateelectrode 114 is disposed on the gate insulation layer 112 coated on thesemiconductor substrate 100, and the source/drain region 122 is formedat the surface portions of the substrate 100 between the gate electrodes114. The spacer 116 is formed at both sidewalls of the gate electrode114.

The lower insulation layer 130 including a transparent material such assilicon oxide is provided on the semiconductor substrate 100 to coverthe transistors 120. A portion of the lower insulation layer 130 isremoved by a conventional photolithography process, thereby forming aplurality of contact holes for exposing the source/drain region 122 anda portion of the gate electrode 114.

Then, a lower barrier metal layer is provided on inner surfaces of thecontact holes and on an upper surface of the lower insulation layer 130to a thickness of about 100 Å to about 500 Å. The lower barrier metallayer prevents a metal material with which the contact hole is to befilled from diffusing into the lower insulation layer 130. The lowerbarrier metal layer may include as tantalum nitride or titanium nitride.As described above, when the lower contact holes are filled withtitanium, the lower barrier metal layer may not be needed.

The contact holes are filled with a metal by a deposition process suchas a CVD process or a sputtering process, thereby forming a lower metallayer on the lower insulation layer 130. The lower metal layer mayinclude titanium and tungsten instead of copper, since copper is likelyto diffuse into the semiconductor substrate 100.

The lower metal layer and the lower barrier metal layer are polisheduntil the lower insulation layer 130 is exposed, e.g., by a chemicalmechanical polishing (CMP) process, thereby forming the lower contact140 filling the contact holes and the lower barrier metal layer pattern401 surrounding the lower contact 140. Therefore, the lower contact 140is electrically connected to the transistors 120.

Referring to FIG. 4B, a first anti-oxidation layer 142 including, e.g.,silicon nitride or silicon carbide, is provided on the lower insulationlayer 130 and the lower contact 140 to prevent the lower contact 140from being oxidized during a subsequent process. The firstanti-oxidation layer 142 may be formed to a thickness of below about 30Å. The first anti-oxidation layer 142 may include a metal material oflow light transmittance. Thus, if the first anti-oxidation layer 142 istoo thick, light may be prevented from reaching the photo diode 110,thereby causing a functional failure of the image device.

Referring to FIG. 4C, the lower diffusion barrier layer 144 includingaluminum oxide is provided on the first anti-oxidation layer 142 to stopan etching process carried out in a subsequent process and to preventmetal from diffusing into an insulating interlayer.

The lower diffusion barrier layer 144 is provided to a thickness ofabout 100 Å to 500 Å, e.g., about 200 Å to 300 Å. According to aconventional method, the first diffusion barrier layer includes siliconnitride rather than aluminum oxide of an embodiment of the presentinvention. However, the silicon nitride layer needs to have a thicknessgreater than about 1000 Å in order to prevent the diffusion of thecopper and stop a subsequent etching process. In contrast, experimentalresults show that a thickness of about 200 Å is sufficient for the samediffusion prevention and etching stop when aluminum oxide is used. Thus,use of aluminum oxide in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention may reduce the thickness to as much as about 80% of that ofthe conventional diffusion barrier layer. The aluminum oxide may beprovided using a PVD process, a CVD process, an ALD process or a Sol-Gelprocess.

The light transmittance of the aluminum oxide layer is dependent on thelayer thickness and the layer composition. That is, the more uniform thecomposition of the aluminum oxide layer and the fewer impurities in thealuminum oxide layer, the better the light transmittance. Therefore, thealuminum oxide layer may be provided using an ALD or a PEALD process toensure uniform composition and few impurities. When aluminum oxide isprovided using the ALD process, the first anti-oxidation layer 142 isnot necessarily needed, since the metal is barely oxidized during thistype of deposition process.

The aluminum oxide layer is coated to be thinner than a conventionalsilicon nitride layer, thus reducing parasitic capacitance as comparedwith the silicon nitride layer. In addition, most of the light istransmitted through the aluminum oxide, and reaches the photodetector,thereby improving the performance of the image device.

A plurality of insulating interlayers is formed on the lower diffusionbarrier layer 144. Each of the insulating interlayers includes at leasta recessed portion, e.g., a trench and a via-hole. In this embodiment,four insulating interlayers are vertically stacked on the lowerdiffusion barrier layer 144. Hereinafter, the stacked insulatinginterlayer will be described.

Referring to FIG. 4D, the first insulating interlayer 150 includingsilicon oxide is provided on the first diffusion barrier layer 144.

A portion of the first insulating interlayer 150, the first diffusionbarrier layer 144 and the first anti-oxidation layer 142 aresequentially removed to form a lower trench for exposing a portion ofthe lower contact 140. A first barrier metal layer 164 having athickness, for example, of about 100 Å to 500 Å, is provided on innersurfaces of the lower trench and on the first insulating interlayer 150.The first barrier metal layer 164 prevents metal to be provided in thelower trench from diffusing into the first insulating interlayer 150.

Then, metal is deposited on the first insulating interlayer 150 to apredetermined thickness, filling the lower trench up with the copper. Asa result, a first metal layer 159 is provided on the first insulatinginterlayer 150. The metal layer may be provided using an electroplatingprocess after depositing a metal seed by a sputtering process, or usingan electroless plating process.

Referring to FIG. 4E, the first metal layer 159 and the first barriermetal layer 164 are removed from the first insulating interlayer, e.g.,using a CMP process. Thus, the first insulating interlayer 150 isexposed, and only the lower trench is filled with metal. Therefore, thelower trench contact 160 is formed along the lower trench, and iselectrically connected with the lower contact 140. In addition, thefirst barrier metal layer 164 remains on side surfaces and bottomsurface of the lower trench, thereby forming the first barrier metallayer pattern 165. The first barrier metal layer pattern 165 preventsthe metal of the lower trench contact 160 from diffusing into the firstinsulating interlayer 150.

Referring to FIG. 4F, a second anti-oxidation layer 166 and a seconddiffusion barrier layer 168 are sequentially coated on the firstinsulating interlayer 150 and the lower trench contact 160. The secondanti-oxidation layer 166 prevents the lower trench contact 160 frombeing oxidized. The second anti-oxidation layer 166 may include siliconnitride or silicon carbide having a thickness below about 30 Å. In thisembodiment, the second diffusion barrier layer 168 includes aluminumoxide at a thickness of about 100 Å to about 500 Å, e.g., a thickness ofabout 200 Å to about 300 Å.

Referring to FIG. 4G, the second insulating interlayer 170 is coated onthe second diffusion barrier layer 168. As an exemplary embodiment, thesecond insulating interlayer 170 includes the first lower layer 170 aand the second upper layer 170 b. The first lower layer 170 a isprovided on the second diffusion barrier layer 168, and may include asilicon oxide type material. Then, the first etching stop layer 180,e.g., including aluminum oxide, is provided on the first lower layer 170a, and is used to stop a subsequent etching process for forming a trenchin the first upper layer 170 b. The etching stop layer 180 may have athickness of about 300 Å to about 1000 Å, e.g., about 500 Å to about 700Å. The first upper layer 170 b coated on the etching stop layer 180includes a silicon oxide type material.

Referring to FIG. 4H, the first upper layer 170 b, the etching stoplayer 180 and the first lower layer 170 a are sequentially removed,respectively, by a conventional photolithography process, therebyexposing a portion of the second diffusion barrier layer 168 and forminga first space surrounded by the first lower layer 170 a, the etchingstop layer 180 and the first upper layer 170 b. Next, an etching processis performed on the first upper layer 170 b neighboring the first spaceuntil the etching stop layer 180 is exposed. In other words, the etchingstop layer 180 is used to stop the etching process for removing part ofthe first upper layer 170 b, and thus the first lower layer 170 a isprotected during this etching process. Therefore, the first lower andupper layers 170 a and 170 b are formed to have a stepped cross-sectionshape, with a second space wider than the first space. The seconddiffusion barrier layer 168 has a higher etching selectivity than thatof the first upper layer 170 b, thus the second diffusion barrier layer168 is barely etched in the etching process for forming the secondspace. Therefore, the lower trench contact 160 is not exposed in theetching process for forming the second space, thereby protecting thelower copper line 160.

Then, the etching stop layer 180 exposed in the second space and thesecond diffusion barrier layer 168 exposed in the first space areremoved, and the lower trench contact 160 is exposed as shown in FIG.4H. Therefore, the first space is defined by the lower trench contact160 and the first lower layer 170 a, and the second space is defined bythe first lower and upper layers 170 a and 170 b and is connected to thefirst space. The first space serves as a first via-hole 172 and thesecond space serves as a first trench 174. Although the above exemplaryembodiments discuss a via-first damascene process in which a via-hole isformed prior to the trench, any other process for forming the via-holeand trench such as a trench-first damascene in which a trench is formedprior to the via-hole may also be utilized in place of the via-firstdamascene process, as would be known to one of the ordinary skill in theart.

Referring to FIG. 4I, a first barrier metal layer 186 is formed on innersurfaces of the first via-hole 172 and the first trench 174, and on thefirst upper layer 170 b. The barrier metal layer 186 prevents a metal,e.g., copper, which fills the first via-hole 172 and the first trench174, from diffusing into the second insulating interlayer 170. The firstbarrier metal layer 186 may include a tantalum layer, a tantalum nitridelayer or a composite layer of titanium nitride layer coated on thetantalum layer. Metal is deposited on the first upper layer 170 b to apredetermined thickness, so that the first via-hole 172 and the firsttrench 174 are filled with metal. As a result, a metal layer 198 is onthe first upper layer 170 b. The metal layer 198 may be formed using anelectroplating process after depositing a metal seed by sputteringprocess, or using an electroless plating process.

Referring to FIG. 4J, the metal layer 198 and the first barrier metallayer 186 are removed, e. g., using a chemical mechanical polishing(CMP) process, thus exposing the first upper layer 170 b. Therefore, themetal only remains in the first via-hole 172 and the first trench 174,thereby forming the first metal pattern 200. The first metal pattern 200includes the first via contact 200 a electrically connected with thelower trench contact 160 and a first trench contact 200 b electricallyconnected to the first via contact 200 a and supplying an electricalsignal to the first via contact 200 a. In addition, the barrier metallayer 186 remains on side surfaces of the first upper and lower layers170 a and 170 b and on the lower copper line 160, thereby forming thefirst barrier metal layer pattern 190.

Referring to FIG. 4K, the insulating interlayer and the first metalpattern may be vertically stacked thereon by repeating the processes asdescribed above in relation to FIGS. 4F to 4J. Therefore, the insulatinginterlayer is formed into stacked layers, each of which includes a lowerlayer and an upper layer, and the second metal pattern is also formedinto stacked patterns individually positioned in every second insulationlayer.

The third anti-oxidation layer 202 and the third diffusion barrier layer204 are sequentially provided on the first upper layer 170 b and thefirst trench contact 200 b. Then, the second lower layer 210 a, thesecond etching stop layer 220 and the second upper layer 210 b aresequentially coated on the third diffusion barrier layer 204. The thirdanti-oxidation layer 202, the third diffusion barrier layer 204 and thesecond lower layer 210 a are sequentially partially removed, forming asecond via-hole. The second via-hole is filled with metal, therebyforming the second via contact 230 a electrically connected with thefirst trench contact 200 b. In the same manner as above, the secondetching stop layer 220 and the second upper layer 210 b are sequentiallyand partially removed, forming a second trench. The second trench isalso filled with metal, thereby forming the second trench contact 230 bmaking a contact with the second via contact 230 a. The second viacontact 230 a and the second trench contact 230 b may be formed by adual damascene process.

The fourth anti-oxidation layer 232 and the fourth diffusion barrierlayer 234 are sequentially coated on the second upper layer 210 b andthe second trench contact 230 b. Then, the third lower layer 250 a, thethird etching stop layer 240 and the third upper layer 250 b aresequentially coated on the fourth diffusion barrier layer 234. Thefourth anti-oxidation layer 232, the fourth diffusion barrier layer 234and the third lower layer 250 a are sequentially and partially removed,forming a third via-hole. The third via-hole is filled with metal,thereby forming the third via contact 270 a electrically connected withthe second trench contact 230 b. In the same manner as above, the thirdetching stop layer 240 and the third upper layer 250 b are sequentiallyand partially removed, and a third trench is formed. The third trench isalso filled with metal, thereby forming the third trench contact 270 belectrically connected to the third via contact 270 a. The third viacontact 270 a and the third trench contact 270 b may also formed by adual damascene process.

Referring to FIG. 4L, the fifth anti-oxidation layer 272, the fifthdiffusion barrier layer 274 and the fifth insulating interlayer 280 aresequentially provided on the third upper layer 250 b and the thirdtrench contact 270 b.

Referring to FIG. 4M, the color filter 290 is formed on the fifthinsulating interlayer 280. The color filter 290 may include an arraystructure of blue, green and red color filters. The micro-lens 300 isformed on the color filter 290 to focus light onto the photo diode 110,thereby completing the image device including a CIS. The micro-lens 300may have an upward-convex semi-sphere shape.

Experiment on Diffusion Prevention of the Aluminum Oxide

Comparative Sample 1

A silicon oxide layer was coated on a silicon substrate. A siliconnitride layer was coated to a thickness of 1000 Å on the silicon oxidelayer as a diffusion barrier layer. Then, copper was deposited on thesilicon nitride layer. A heat treatment was carried out to the substrateon which the silicon oxide layer, silicon nitride layer and a copperlayer were stacked for 30 minutes at a temperature of 400° C. The copperwas then etched by a wet etching process.

Comparative Sample 2

A silicon oxide layer was coated on a silicon substrate. A tantalumoxide layer was coated to a thickness of 400 Å on the silicon oxidelayer as a diffusion barrier layer. Then, copper was deposited on thetantalum oxide layer. A heat treatment was carried out to the substrateon which the silicon oxide layer, tantalum oxide layer and a copperlayer were stacked for 30 minutes at a temperature of 400° C. in avacuum state. The copper was etched by a wet etching process.

Sample 1

A silicon oxide layer was coated on a silicon substrate. An aluminumoxide layer was coated to a thickness of 200 Å on the silicon oxidelayer as a diffusion barrier layer. Then, copper was deposited on thealuminum oxide layer. A heat treatment was carried out to the substrateon which the silicon oxide layer, aluminum oxide layer and a copperlayer were stacked for 30 minutes at a temperature of 400° C. in avacuum state. The copper was etched by a wet etching process.

Experimental Results on Copper Diffusion with Sample 1, ComparativeSamples 1 and 2

FIG. 5 is a graph of intensity of secondary ions versus time whenComparative Sample 1 was tested. FIG. 6 is a graph of intensity ofsecondary ions versus time when Comparative Sample 2 was tested. FIG. 7is a graph of intensity of secondary ions versus time when Sample 1 wastested. In FIGS. 5 trough 7, plots 70, 72, 74 indicate the amount ofsecondary ions of the silicon, and plots 80, 82, 84 indicate the amountof secondary ions of the copper.

The intensity of secondary ions shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 was measured bysecondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). The SIMS analysis shows that theamount of copper diffusion into the silicon oxide varies in accordancewith a type of diffusion barrier layer.

When the silicon nitride layer is coated to a thickness of about 1000 Å,as in Comparative Sample 1, it is well known that the copper issufficiently prevented from diffusing. The copper detected in FIG. 5 isnot from copper diffusion into the silicon oxide layer, but rather froma copper matrix effect due to copper remaining after removal of thecopper by the etching process.

When the tantalum oxide layer is coated to a thickness of about 400 Å,as in Comparative Sample 2, much more copper is detected in the siliconoxide layer than when the silicon nitride layer of about 1000 Å as shownin FIG. 6. Therefore, the copper will diffuse into the silicon oxidelayer even with a tantalum oxide layer of about 400 Å as a diffusionbarrier layer.

Comparing FIGS. 5 and 7 illustrates that the copper profile in thesilicon oxide layer when aluminum oxide layer is coated to a thicknessof about 200 Å, as in Sample 1, is very similar to that of the siliconnitride layer having a thickness of about 1000 Å. Therefore, when thealuminum oxide layer is utilized as the diffusion barrier layer inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a thickness ofabout 200 Å is sufficient for preventing the copper from diffusing.

As described above, multi-layer electrical interconnections electricallyconnected to the transistors may be formed to include metal of lowresistance, e.g., copper. Therefore, even when the electricalinterconnections are formed using a process having a design rule below0.13 μm, the electrical resistance of the electrical interconnectionsmay be sufficiently reduced. As a result, the operating speed of theimage device may be remarkably increased. In addition, lightsufficiently reaches the photo diode, since the diffusion barrier layerformed of aluminum oxide has a high light transmittance. Therefore, thelight transmittance of the CIS may be remarkably improved.

According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, thewirings of the CIS may be formed of copper, and aluminum oxide layerhaving high light transmittance is used as the etching stop layer in thecopper damascene process. Therefore, although the image sensor may bemanufactured under the process below 0.13 μm, the CIS still hassufficient light transmittance.

Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed, it is understood that the present invention should not belimited to these exemplary embodiments but various changes andmodifications can be made by one skilled in the art within the spiritand scope of the present invention as hereinafter claimed. For example,similar advantages of using a metal oxide with high light transmittanceover any optoelectronic device, such as a light source, may be realized.

1. An electrical interconnection, comprising: a first insulation layerformed on a substrate, the first insulation layer having at least onefirst recessed portion; a first metal pattern filling the first recessedportion; a first diffusion barrier layer formed on the first insulationlayer and the first metal pattern, the first diffusion barrier layerpreventing metal of the first metal pattern from diffusing out of thefirst metal pattern, the first diffusion barrier layer including a metaloxide; a second insulation layer formed on the first diffusion barrierlayer, the second insulation layer having at least one second recessedportion that exposes an upper surface of the first metal pattern; and asecond metal pattern filling the second recessed portion.
 2. Theelectrical interconnection as claimed in claim 1, wherein the firstdiffusion barrier layer has a thickness of about 100 Å to about 500 Å.3. The electrical interconnection as claimed in claim 1, furthercomprising an anti-oxidation layer disposed under the diffusion barrierlayer, the anti-oxidation layer preventing the first metal pattern frombeing oxidized.
 4. The electrical interconnection as claimed in claim 2,wherein the anti-oxidation layer comprises silicon nitride.
 5. Theelectrical interconnection as claimed in claim 3, wherein theanti-oxidation layer has a thickness less than about 50 Å.
 6. Theelectrical interconnection as claimed in claim 1, wherein the firstmetal pattern includes copper.
 7. The electrical interconnection asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the second metal pattern includes copper,and comprises a via contact at a lower portion thereof and a trenchcontact at an upper portion thereof, the trench contact beingelectrically connected to the via contact.
 8. The electricalinterconnection as claimed in claim 7, wherein the second insulationlayer includes an insulating interlayer having a lower layer includingat least a via-hole exposing a portion of the first metal pattern and anupper layer including at least a trench connected to the via-hole, thevia contact and the trench contact being formed along the via-hole andthe trench, respectively.
 9. The electrical interconnection as claimedin claim 8, further comprising a barrier metal layer on side and bottomsurfaces of the via-hole and the trench, the barrier metal layer forpreventing the copper from diffusing out of the second metal pattern.10. The electrical interconnection as claimed in claim 8, furthercomprising an etching stop layer interposed between the lower layer andthe upper layer, the etching stop layer being used for stopping anetching process for forming the trench.
 11. The electricalinterconnection as claimed in claim 8, wherein the etching stop layerhas a thickness of about 300 Å to about 1000 Å.
 12. The electricalinterconnection as claimed in claim 8, wherein a plurality of theinsulating interlayers is stacked on the second insulation layer, eachof the plurality of the insulating layers having a second metal patternincluding a via contact formed along a via-hole of a correspondinginsulating interlayer and a trench contact formed along a trench of acorresponding insulating interlayer, the via contact and the trenchcontact disposed in adjacent insulating interlayers being electricallyconnected to each other.
 13. The electrical interconnection as claimedin claim 12, further comprising a second diffusion barrier layerinterposed between the insulating interlayers, the second diffusionbarrier layer preventing a metal material of the trench contact fromdiffusing into the insulating interlayers.
 14. The electricalinterconnection as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a metalanti-oxidation layer under the second diffusion barrier layer, the metalanti-oxidation layer preventing the trench contact from being oxidized.15. An image device, comprising: a substrate on which a semiconductordevice including a optoelectronic device is disposed; an insulatinginterlayer structure disposed on the substrate, the insulatinginterlayer structure including a plurality of insulating interlayerpatterns stacked thereon, each of the insulating interlayer patternsincluding at least a recessed portion; a plurality of metal patternspositioned along the recessed portions and electrically connected toeach other; a plurality of diffusion barrier layers including a metaloxide and disposed on boundary surfaces between the insulatinginterlayer patterns and between a metal pattern and an adjacentinsulating interlayer, the diffusion barrier layer preventing metal ofthe metal pattern from diffusing into the insulating interlayers; acolor filter disposed on the insulating interlayer structure; and a lensdisposed on the color filter.
 16. The image device as claimed in claim15, further comprising an anti-oxidation layer under the diffusionbarrier layer, the anti-oxidation layer preventing the metal patternfrom being oxidized.
 17. The image device as claimed in claim 15,wherein each of the metal patterns includes copper, and furthercomprises a via contact disposed at a lower portion thereof and aconductive line disposed at an upper portion thereof.
 18. The imagedevice as claimed in claim 15, between the semiconductor device and theinsulating interlayer structure, further comprising: a lower insulationlayer covering the semiconductor device; and a lower contact formed on aportion of the lower insulation layer, the lower contact makingelectrical contact with the semiconductor device.
 19. The image deviceas claimed in claim 18, further comprising: a lower insulatinginterlayer formed on the lower insulation layer; a lower trench contactformed on a portion of the lower insulating interlayer, the lower trenchcontact being electrically connected with the lower contact; and a lowerdiffusion barrier layer including aluminum oxide, the lower diffusionbarrier layer being interposed between the lower trench contact and thelower insulating interlayer.
 20. The image device as claimed in claim19, wherein each of the insulating interlayer patterns includes a lowerlayer pattern formed on the lower diffusion barrier layer and having atleast a via-hole for exposing the lower contact and an upper layerpattern having at least a trench electrically connected to the via-hole,each of the metal patterns including copper and further including a viacontact formed along the via-hole and a trench contact formed along thetrench.
 21. The image device as claimed in claim 20, further comprisingan etching stop layer interposed between the lower layer pattern and theupper layer pattern, the etching stop layer being used for stopping anetching process for forming the trench.
 22. The image device as claimedin claim 21, wherein the etching stop layer comprises aluminum oxide.23-43. (canceled)
 44. The electrical interconnection as claimed in claim1, wherein the metal oxide is aluminum oxide.
 45. The image device asclaimed in claim 15, wherein the metal oxide is aluminum oxide.